Coach Grace Wells joins Collin College after an extraordinary career playing and coaching volleyball.
An under-18 gold medal winner for the Chinese National Team and National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-American during her playing days, Wells set records as a coach in DIII volleyball at Frank Phillips College. Wells, who holds master's degrees in teaching and sports management, joins Collin College after coaching Dallas College-Richardson Campus to a Top 10 national ranking and graduating 100% of her sophomore class at that school.
We had the opportunity to ask Wells a few questions about her history and her coaching philosophy. Her answers follow.
Tell us about your history with volleyball. Did you play? And how did that lead to coaching?
Yes, I played volleyball in Beijing and was selected as a member of the Chinese National Team in 2003. During my time on that team, we won a gold medal at the U18 World Championship, an accomplishment for which I am very proud, and we had the opportunity to play volleyball all around the world.
I left Beijing to attend Seward Community College in Liberal, Kansas, where I played volleyball on a full-ride athletic scholarship, earned my associate degree in general studies, and was honored as an NJCAA All-American. From there, I played volleyball on a full-ride athletic scholarship at Academy of Art University (AAU) in San Francisco, California, and earned my Bachelor of Fashion Arts degree.
Shortly after I graduated from AAU, I was hired as head volleyball coach at Frank Phillips College in Borger, Texas, where the team set a record for winning all its home games. Most recently, Dallas College-Richland Campus hired me, and during my tenure, our 2024-25 DIII team was ranked No. 9 in the nation and took second place in the conference.
Do you have a coaching philosophy?
Former University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Coach John Wooden's statement describes my coaching philosophy: "Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best that you are capable of becoming." This is how I manage my own life through faith and patience with strong dedication, and this is what I hope to instill in our Cougar volleyball team – to help young female athletes find their highest success pathway.
What do you enjoy about the sport of volleyball?
I am a competitive person, so I enjoy winning and the process of building a team. I also enjoy watching my players sharpen their skills as the season progresses. It's a pleasure to watch them develop camaraderie through teamwork, working hard, and having fun. Volleyball is fun. It will train them to gain a strong mind and prepare them for the future workforce.
What are you looking for in players for this inaugural team?
I'm looking for players who are dedicated, passionate, who will have the grit to fight for what comes their way, and who are committed to both their athletics and academics and who will carry the desire to play at the next level after graduating from Collin College. I've played professional volleyball for many years. I'm looking for players who will trust in me when I coach them, who believe they can learn a great deal from me, and who will look to the future with the hope of earning scholarships to a four-year university.
What are the first steps in building this new program?
The first step is having a strong vision and mission for the team. What do we want to accomplish in the near future and beyond? What do we want to become? I envision future Collin College volleyball teams developing into skilled, resilient players who possess character, courage, ambition, and humility, ultimately becoming players capable of competing at four-year universities. We are already at work recruiting players, building scrimmage, tournament, and competition schedules, and preparing for young women to take to the volleyball court, ready to compete.
What does the NJCAA volleyball landscape look like and how does Collin College fit into it?
We're going to be the new kids on the block, and we'll be competing against good teams who have already developed their team skills and strategies for the most part. Weatherford College rose to 5th place in the 2024 NJCAA DI volleyball rankings, making them tough competitors when we play them on Sept. 20 and again on Oct. 22. I am confident that our Collin Cougars will give our competitors more than they bargained for.
Why was Collin College a good fit for you?
Collin College offers a wealth of opportunities to the community and is ranked among the top community colleges in Texas. During my short time at Collin, the administrators and staff have shown me warmth, welcoming, and are helpful, making my transition smoother and homey. Additionally, I'm excited about building a new team and looking forward to the start of the first season!